Inhibition of flame propagation by an endothermic reaction

The propagation of a premixed laminar flame supported by an exothermic chemical reaction under adiabatic conditions but subject to inhibition through a parallel endothermic chemical process is considered. The heat loss through the endothermic reaction, represented by the dimensionless parameter α has a strong quenching effect on wave propagation. The temperature profile can have a front or a pulse structure depending on the relative values of the parameters α and β the latter represents the rate at which inhibitor is consumed relative to the consumption of fuel. The wave speed–cooling parameter (α) curves are determined for various values of the other parameters. These curves can be monotone decreasing or S‐shaped, depending on the value of β and the ratio of the activation energies of the reactants. This gives the possibility of having either one, two or three different flame velocities for the same value of the cooling parameter α.